A peaceful protest held today (May 14) in North Vancouver in support of freeing marijuana activist Marc Emery had a wider effect than expected.
A group of 15 activists intended to occupy the constituency office of Conservative MP Andrew Saxton in protest of Emery's pending extradition to the United States. However, when the activists arrived at 10:30 a.m., they found the office locked and empty.
According to Jacob Hunter, policy director for the Beyond Prohibition Foundation, Saxton's wasn't the only Conservative office darkened on the sunny Friday morning.
"The Conservative party decided to shut down what we're hearing is five offices around the Lower Mainland because they heard we were going to be protesting inside one of them," Hunter told the Straight at the protest. "They just go home because they don't want to face protesters."
Subsequent calls by the Straight to the offices of Conservative MPs Alice Wong (Richmond), John Weston (West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country), Dona Cadman (Surrey North), and John Cummins (Delta-Richmond East) weren't returned this afternoon.
Two legal observers from the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, Ian Kennedy and Safia Lakhani, were on-hand to witness any confrontation between the protesters and police. However, only one North Vancouver RCMP officer came to the scene and departed right after turning off the alarm in Saxton's office, which had been tripped by an activist when he attempted to open the front door.
"The cops didn't seem to be very interested in a confrontation today," Kennedy said.
Hunter, who participated in the occupation of Conservative MP James Moore's office in Port Moody earlier in the week, stressed the importance of citizens taking direct action.
"Whether or not it's for Marc Emery, whether or not it's for marijuana legalization, we want everyone to know that it is fully legal to protest inside your member of Parliament's office," Hunter said. "Go to their offices, occupy, sit in, let them conduct business–but let everyone who goes in there know why you're there."
Rallies in opposition to Emery's extradition are scheduled to take place around the world on May 22, with protests planned across the U.S. and Canada, as well as in Australia and Denmark. Vancouver's rally will take place at Victory Square (Cambie and West Hastings streets) starting at 2 p.m.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Straight.com
Author: Miranda Nelson
Contact: Straight.com
Copyright: 2010 Vancouver Free Press
Website: Marijuana activists "shut down" Conservative MP's office over Marc Emery extradition
A group of 15 activists intended to occupy the constituency office of Conservative MP Andrew Saxton in protest of Emery's pending extradition to the United States. However, when the activists arrived at 10:30 a.m., they found the office locked and empty.
According to Jacob Hunter, policy director for the Beyond Prohibition Foundation, Saxton's wasn't the only Conservative office darkened on the sunny Friday morning.
"The Conservative party decided to shut down what we're hearing is five offices around the Lower Mainland because they heard we were going to be protesting inside one of them," Hunter told the Straight at the protest. "They just go home because they don't want to face protesters."
Subsequent calls by the Straight to the offices of Conservative MPs Alice Wong (Richmond), John Weston (West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country), Dona Cadman (Surrey North), and John Cummins (Delta-Richmond East) weren't returned this afternoon.
Two legal observers from the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, Ian Kennedy and Safia Lakhani, were on-hand to witness any confrontation between the protesters and police. However, only one North Vancouver RCMP officer came to the scene and departed right after turning off the alarm in Saxton's office, which had been tripped by an activist when he attempted to open the front door.
"The cops didn't seem to be very interested in a confrontation today," Kennedy said.
Hunter, who participated in the occupation of Conservative MP James Moore's office in Port Moody earlier in the week, stressed the importance of citizens taking direct action.
"Whether or not it's for Marc Emery, whether or not it's for marijuana legalization, we want everyone to know that it is fully legal to protest inside your member of Parliament's office," Hunter said. "Go to their offices, occupy, sit in, let them conduct business–but let everyone who goes in there know why you're there."
Rallies in opposition to Emery's extradition are scheduled to take place around the world on May 22, with protests planned across the U.S. and Canada, as well as in Australia and Denmark. Vancouver's rally will take place at Victory Square (Cambie and West Hastings streets) starting at 2 p.m.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Straight.com
Author: Miranda Nelson
Contact: Straight.com
Copyright: 2010 Vancouver Free Press
Website: Marijuana activists "shut down" Conservative MP's office over Marc Emery extradition
